With many of the seasonal water sources failing due to poor rains, there has been considerable reliance on a limited number of high-yielding water schemes whose ongoing performance is critical to the drought response.

"The spreading of Ebola and a range of water and sanitation related diseases can be dramatically reduced by strengthening and promoting hygiene behaviours," says IRC's Africa Regional Programme Manager and Hygiene and Sanitation specialist Alana Potter.

A unique handwashing campaign jointly funded by SHARE (source) and the Wellcome Trust has shown for the first time that using emotional motivators – such as feelings of disgust and nurture – rather than health messages, can result in significant, long-lasting improvements in people's handwashing...